---
title: "Living in Taoyuan as a digital nomad: cost, safety, visa, internet"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/taoyuan
description: "Taiwan's airport city, with lower rents than Taipei"
dataset: 2026.11.2 (2026-11-09)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Taoyuan, Taiwan

Taoyuan scores 66/100 for digital nomads under balanced weights, ranking 322 of 1501 cities. Expect about $1,550 per month (country-level estimate), a nomad visa (Digital nomad visitor visa), and a measured median download speed of 45.8 Mbps.

Taoyuan is a fast-growing city of 2.3 million next to Taiwan's main international airport, with factories, new housing and the Southeast Asian food scene of Zhongli. High-speed rail reaches Taipei in about 20 minutes and rents are lower, but daily life is car and scooter based and there are few sights. Taiwan's digital nomad visitor visa allows stays of up to two years for visa-exempt nationals.

Known for: Taoyuan International Airport, Southeast Asian food in Zhongli, Daxi Old Street, Airport MRT to Taipei.

## Scores (balanced weights, 0–100)

| Factor | Score |
| --- | --- |
| Overall | 66 |
| Cost of living | 53 |
| Safety | 86 |
| Healthcare | 87 |
| Internet | 73 |
| Visa ease | 71 |
| Getting there & around | 30 |
| Climate | 42 |
| Air quality | 71 |
| Quality of life | 82 |

## The numbers behind the scores

| Metric | Value | Level | As of | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly cost, one person | $1,550 | country | 2026-09 | [^2] |
| Central 1-bedroom rent | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Outskirts 1-bedroom rent (basis of the monthly total) | — | city | 2026-09 | [^3] |
| Homicide rate (per 100k) | 0.8 | country | 2021 | [^4] |
| Political stability (0–100) | 83.1 | country | 2025 | [^5] |
| UHC service coverage (0–100) | — | country | 2021 | [^6] |
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.2 | country | 2023 | [^7] |
| Median download (Mbps) | 45.8 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Median upload (Mbps) | 15.2 | city | 2024 | [^8] |
| Starlink residential service | Coming soon (Service date is unknown at this time) | country | 2026-10 | [^9] |
| Nomad visa | Digital nomad visitor visa (min $3,333/mo) | country | 2026-10-28 | [^10] |
| Visa guide | [Taiwan long-stay visa guide](https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/taiwan) | country | 2026-10-28 | [^10] |
| Entry for US / EU / UK passports | 90 days / 90 days / 90 days | country | 2026-02 | [^11] |
| Non-stop destinations (TPE) | 104 | city | 2026-10 | [^12] |
| Restaurants within 3 km of the centre (OpenStreetMap) | 465 | city | 2026-11 | [^16] |
| Walkability / transit (1–5) | 2 / 3 | editorial | 2026-09 | [^13] |
| Comfortable months | 5 of 12 | city | 2001–2020 | [^14] |
| Annual mean PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 18 | city | 2023 | [^15] |
| Human Development Index | 0.926 | country | 2021 | [^17] |
| English proficiency band | moderate | country | 2024 | [^18] |

## Tax on income from abroad

**Foreign investment income is outside regular tax, but remote work done in Taiwan is taxed after 90 days.** Taiwan taxes income from Taiwan sources only. Pay for work you do while in Taiwan is Taiwan-source, even from a foreign employer, once you stay over 90 days in a calendar year: 18% flat as a non-resident, 5%–40% from 183 days. Foreign dividends, interest, rent and gains are outside regular tax; a 20% minimum tax can reach them only if they total NT$1 million and basic income tops NT$7.5 million.

| Question | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| How residents are taxed | territorial (local income only) |
| Remote work for foreign clients or employers | taxed (5%–40% progressive for residents; 18% flat for non-residents staying 91–182 days) |
| Investments and pensions from abroad | not taxed (0% in the regular system; 20% minimum tax only above NT$7.5 million of basic income) |
| Wealth | no wealth tax; inheritance tax applies |
| Tax resident after | 183 days a year |
| Top income tax rate | 40% |

Residency: A foreigner without a domicile in Taiwan is a resident for a tax year if they stay in Taiwan 183 days or more in total during that year (Income Tax Act, Article 7). The tax year is the calendar year, 1 January to 31 December. Days come from passport stamps or an immigration entry-exit certificate: the day of arrival does not count, the day of departure does, and separate trips in the same year are added up. Someone with a domicile in Taiwan who habitually lives there is also resident, which mainly concerns people with household registration. For a foreigner without a domicile, only the day count matters. Because the count resets on 1 January, a stay of six months or more that straddles two calendar years can leave you under 183 days in each year, so you stay a non-resident. Non-residents are taxed only on Taiwan-source income, mostly by withholding, and must settle any tax not withheld before they leave.

Remote work: Remuneration for services performed in Taiwan is Taiwan-source income wherever the payer is (Income Tax Act, Article 8(3)). The only exception is for a non-resident who stays 90 days or less in the calendar year and is paid by an employer outside Taiwan: that pay is exempt. Over 90 days, the pay is Taiwan-source. A non-resident (91 to 182 days) owes a flat 18% on it, filed and paid before leaving Taiwan, because no Taiwanese payer withholds it (Article 73). From 183 days you are resident: the pay is added to your other Taiwan income and taxed at 5%–40% after a NT$101,000 personal exemption, a NT$136,000 standard deduction and a salary deduction of up to NT$227,000 (2026 amounts), on a return filed from 1 to 31 May of the next year. The tax office asks for a certificate from the foreign employer, certified by a local tax authority, notary or CPA. The 90-day exception is written for pay from a foreign employer; whether it also covers freelance fees from foreign clients is not stated, so freelancers should assume their fees for work done in Taiwan are taxable. National Health Insurance is compulsory for holders of a residence permit after six months in Taiwan, or from day one with a Taiwanese employer; visitors cannot join. A tax agreement between Taiwan and your home country may change the result, so check yours.

Investments: Foreign dividends, interest, rent, capital gains and pensions are not Taiwan-source, so they are left out of regular income tax for residents and non-residents alike (Income Tax Act, Articles 2 and 8). The catch is the alternative minimum tax under the Income Basic Tax Act, which applies to residents only. A resident household must add its foreign income to 'basic income' if it reaches NT$1 million in the year; below that, none of it counts. The basic tax is 20% of basic income above NT$7.5 million (2026), and you pay it only to the extent it exceeds your regular tax. Foreign tax paid on that income can be credited, up to the extra basic tax it causes. Profits of a controlled foreign company in a low-tax jurisdiction that you (with your spouse and close relatives) own 10% or more of are also counted, with the same NT$1 million threshold. Taiwan-source investment income is taxed separately. Taiwanese dividends are added to income with an 8.5% credit capped at NT$80,000 per household, or taxed separately at 28%. Interest from Taiwanese banks shares a NT$270,000 deduction with listed dividends. Gains on Taiwanese listed shares are not subject to income tax (Article 4-1), but gains on unlisted Taiwanese shares count toward basic income. Non-residents have Taiwan dividends withheld at 21%, and most interest and rent at 20%. This profile does not cover crypto gains.

On the nomad visa: Taiwan's digital nomad visitor visa, launched in January 2025, is a visitor visa with no residence permit, and it gives no tax status of its own: the 90-day and 183-day counts apply as to anyone. Up to 90 days in a calendar year, pay from a foreign employer is not taxed. From 91 to 182 days, that pay is Taiwan-source and taxed at a flat 18%, filed before you leave. From 183 days in the same calendar year you are resident and taxed at 5%–40% on it, while foreign investment income stays outside regular tax unless the minimum tax applies. Holders cannot join National Health Insurance without a residence permit, which is why the visa requires private health cover.

Schemes for newcomers:

- **Foreign special professional tax relief (Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals, Article 22)** (5 years): For 5 years from the first year in which you stay 183 days and earn salary above NT$3 million, half of the salary above NT$3 million is exempt, so the top effective rate on that slice drops to 20%. In those years foreign income is also left out of the NT$7.5 million minimum tax. Who qualifies: Foreigners recognised as having special expertise who hold a foreign special professional work permit or an Employment Gold Card and are employed in professional work in Taiwan, who are getting residence for work for the first time and who had no household registration and were not tax resident in Taiwan in the 5 years before. Salary from Taiwanese and foreign employers both counts; freelance fees do not. You must claim it on each year's return.

Official sources: [Income Tax Act (所得稅法), amended 11 September 2026](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340003) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [MOF announcement 台財稅字第11404664070號: 2026 exemptions, deductions and tax brackets](https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/detail.do?metaid=161826&log=detailLog) (Executive Yuan Gazette (Ministry of Finance announcement of 27 November 2025), read 2026-10-27); [Income Basic Tax Act (所得基本稅額條例)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340115) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Individual basic tax: computation (四、基本稅額之計算)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/individual-income-basic-tax/2wAQRlM) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Individual basic tax: who must file (一、應填寫個人所得基本稅額申報表之申報戶)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/individual-income-basic-tax/5kE2vD9) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Individual basic tax: foreign tax credit (七、海外已納稅額之扣抵)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/individual-income-basic-tax/EzzDoLM) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Items included in individual basic income (應計入個人基本所得額之項目有那些?)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/alien-tax-faq/DOD21qY) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Alien income tax and length of stay (一、外僑綜合所得稅與居留期間的關係)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/alien-individual-income-tax/15r2N1n) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Counting days of stay (四、居留日數之計算)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/alien-individual-income-tax/NJr2poV) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Income recognition for foreigners (五、所得之認定)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/alien-individual-income-tax/rbbABDr) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Withholding rates for non-residents (十八、非中華民國境內居住之個人之扣繳率規定)](https://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/alien-tax-service/alien-individual-income-tax/vV8Z3o9) (Ministry of Finance Tax Portal (etax.nat.gov.tw), read 2026-10-27); [Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及僱用法), amended 24 September 2025](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=A0030295) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Regulations on Income Tax Relief for Foreign Special Professionals (外國特定專業人才減免所得稅辦法), amended 2 March 2026](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340150) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Estate and Gift Tax Act (遺產及贈與稅法)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340072) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [MOF announcement: 2026 estate and gift tax amounts (遺產及贈與稅法第12條之1)](https://gazette.nat.gov.tw/egFront/detail.do?metaid=161862&log=detailLog) (Executive Yuan Gazette (Ministry of Finance announcement of 27 November 2025), read 2026-10-27); [House Tax Act (房屋稅條例)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340102) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Land Tax Act (土地稅法)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340096) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Deed Tax Act (契稅條例)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=G0340105) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [National Health Insurance Act (全民健康保險法)](https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=L0060001) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Ministry of Justice, read 2026-10-27); [Digital Nomad Visitor Visa](https://www.boca.gov.tw/cp-158-7718-c0382-2.html) (Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan), read 2026-10-27).

Not yet reviewed by a person. General information, not tax advice. US citizens are taxed by the US wherever they live.

## Climate (2001–2020 normals)

| Month | Mean °C | Rain mm | Humidity % | Comfortable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jan | 14.3 | 95 | 86 | no |
| Feb | 15.2 | 88 | 86 | no |
| Mar | 17.2 | 126 | 83 | yes |
| Apr | 20.8 | 122 | 82 | yes |
| May | 24.1 | 227 | 83 | no |
| Jun | 26.3 | 270 | 84 | no |
| Jul | 27.7 | 169 | 82 | no |
| Aug | 27.3 | 263 | 84 | no |
| Sep | 25.7 | 243 | 85 | no |
| Oct | 22.6 | 109 | 84 | yes |
| Nov | 20 | 107 | 85 | yes |
| Dec | 16.1 | 96 | 85 | yes |

## Airports and nonstop flights

| Airport | IATA | Nonstop destinations | International | From US airports |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Taoyuan International Airport | TPE | 104 | 104 | 11 |

Unique destinations across all airports: 104, of which 104 international (Wikipedia, 2026-10).

## Similar cities

- [Hsinchu](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/hsinchu) (66.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/hsinchu-vs-taoyuan)
- [Keelung](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/keelung) (70.2) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/keelung-vs-taoyuan)
- [Taitung](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/taitung) (68.4) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/taitung-vs-taoyuan)
- [Hualien](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/hualien) (67.9) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/hualien-vs-taoyuan)
- [Taichung](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/taichung) (64.7) — [compare](https://nostos.navoy.io/compare/taichung-vs-taoyuan)

## FAQ

### How much does it cost to live in Taoyuan as a digital nomad?

A single person typically spends about $1,550 per month in Taoyuan (a country-level estimate for Taiwan). That is a 53/100 cost score, where 100 is the cheapest city in the dataset.

### Is Taoyuan safe for digital nomads?

Taoyuan scores 86/100 on safety. Taiwan records 0.8 homicides per 100,000 people per year (WHO, 2021) and a political-stability score of 83.1/100 (World Bank WGI). Both figures are national, so neighbourhood-level risk can differ.

### Does Taiwan have a digital nomad visa?

Yes. Taiwan offers the Digital nomad visitor visa with a minimum income of about $3,333 per month. Verify current rules with the issuing authority before applying. Full guide: https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/taiwan

### How fast is the internet in Taoyuan?

Measured median download speed in Taoyuan was 45.8 Mbps (upload 15.2 Mbps) across 7,078 M-Lab tests in 2024. Measured speeds run below advertised plan speeds everywhere, so compare cities rather than reading the number as a plan.

### Is Starlink available in Taoyuan?

Not yet. Starlink's availability map lists Taiwan as coming soon (Service date is unknown at this time) as of 2026-10. Roaming plans may work for short stays, but local rules on using them vary.

### Which airports serve Taoyuan and how many nonstop flights are there?

Taoyuan is served by Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) with 104 nonstop destinations, of which 104 are international. 11 US airports have a nonstop link. Source: Wikipedia, 2026-10.

### When is the best time of year to be in Taoyuan?

The most comfortable months are Mar, Apr, Oct, Nov, Dec. Mean temperatures range from 58°F (14°C) in Jan to 82°F (28°C) in Jul (NASA POWER 2001–2020 climatology).

### Taoyuan or Hsinchu: which is better for digital nomads?

Hsinchu is the city with the closest factor profile to Taoyuan in this dataset. Which one wins depends on your weights; the comparison page puts every factor side by side with the numbers behind them.

## Plan a trip

[Plan a trip to Taoyuan](https://dashboard.navoy.io/trip/new?utm_source=nostos&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=plan_trip&utm_content=taoyuan&destination=Taoyuan%2C+Taiwan) on Navoy, the AI travel planner behind Nostos.

## Sources

[^1]: City population (latest census or official estimate), Wikipedia (citing national statistics offices). CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^2]: 2026 Cost of Living Index (country level), WhereNext. CC BY 4.0. https://getwherenext.com/data/cost-of-living-2026 (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^3]: Cost of Living Global 2026 (city rows), WhereToEmigrate. CC BY 4.0. https://github.com/0brien18/global-emigration-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^4]: Intentional homicide rate, Taiwan (National Police Agency via Wikipedia), Wikipedia, citing Taiwan National Police Agency. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^5]: Worldwide Governance Indicators — Political Stability and Absence of Violence (score 0–100), World Bank. CC BY 4.0. https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/worldwide-governance-indicators (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^6]: UHC service coverage index, World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO data policy). https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/indicators/indicator-details/GHO/uhc-index-of-service-coverage (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^7]: Life expectancy at birth, Taiwan (Ministry of the Interior), Taiwan Ministry of the Interior, Department of Statistics. Open Government Data License, Taiwan. https://www.moi.gov.tw/english/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^8]: M-Lab NDT statistics (city aggregates, 2024), Measurement Lab. CC0 1.0. https://statistics.measurementlab.net/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^9]: Starlink availability map, SpaceX (Starlink). Factual status cited from starlink.com. https://www.starlink.com/map (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^10]: Nostos long-stay visa guides, Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/visas (retrieved 2026-10-04)
[^11]: Passport Index dataset (visa requirements, 199 passports × 199 destinations), Ilya Ilyankou (compiled from passportindex.org). MIT. https://github.com/ilyankou/passport-index-dataset (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^12]: Airport destinations (Wikipedia airline and destination tables), Wikipedia contributors; countries via Wikidata. CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/ (retrieved 2026-09-24)
[^13]: Walkability and transit ratings (editorial), Navoy. CC BY 4.0. https://nostos.navoy.io/methodology (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^14]: NASA POWER climatology (2001–2020 monthly means), NASA Langley Research Center. Public domain (US Government). https://power.larc.nasa.gov/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^15]: SatPM2.5 satellite-derived annual PM2.5 (V6.GL.02.04), Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis. CC BY 4.0. https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/surface-pm2-5/ (retrieved 2026-10-07)
[^16]: OpenStreetMap restaurants (Overpass API), OpenStreetMap contributors. ODbL 1.0. https://overpass-api.de/ (retrieved 2026-10-02)
[^17]: Human Development Index, Taiwan (DGBAS calculation), Taiwan Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. Open Government Data License, Taiwan. https://www.dgbas.gov.tw/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)
[^18]: EF English Proficiency Index 2024 (band), EF Education First. Proprietary; band cited as a fact with attribution. https://www.ef.com/epi/ (retrieved 2026-09-22)

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